A {{chord progression}}, made famous by Creator/AntoninDvorak's piano solo piece "Humoresque", in which this features in the middle section.

The original progression is in a [[{{tonality}} minor key]], and runs as follows: i VI VII III. The effect is a temporary toniciziation of the relative major key--in other words, the music temporarily sounds like it's going to the relative major key. This is frequently followed a chord like v or VII, and even if not, repeated instances of this progression. This progression is used in ways similar to the use of the first four chords of the CircleOfFifths in a minor key (i iv VII III).

However, that may be hard to distinguish from its relative major key, and would in fact count as vi IV V I if in major, making this a variant of TheFourChordsOfPop. In this case, this functions as a derivative of the AuthenticCadence (V I). And again, it tends to be repeated a lot...often using the same transition chord, too (iii, which is the same as v in the relative minor).

This list contains both relative minor (i VI VII III) and relative major (vi IV V I) examples.

!!Relative minor examples (i VI VII III)
* The trope namer is Dvořák's "Humoresque" #7 in G flat major. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmAZoexenx8#t=1m19s This link]] goes to the middle section of the piece, where it most famously appears.
* Briefly in the first movement of LudwigVanBeethoven's [[BeethovenViolinConcerto violin concerto]], when the [[SonataForm second theme]] temporarily goes to minor.
* MikeOldfield includes this progression in his famous song "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCp57YGiEBU Moonlight Shadow]]". Listen to the first four chords when the voice comes in. Listen to them repeat.
* From the ''MegaManX 4'' soundtrack:
** the prologue theme in the Japanese version: YukieNakama, "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWuHmlWn-bs Makenai ai ga kitto aru]]"
** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vse756mAMfo Storm Owl's stage theme]], which is [[IncrediblyLamePun composed]] entirely of this progression. Each loop consists entirely of 18 instances of this progression spanning two keys (A minor and C sharp minor).
** Part of [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCic3Or2gQs Jet Stingray's stage theme]], starting at 0:14, contains two instances of this progression.
* The theme tune of the two ''{{Ef}}'' series.
* ''FinalFantasyX'': When the main melody of "To Zanarkand" comes in.
* "Heart of Gold" by NeilYoung, when the harmonica comes in, and again when the voice comes in.
* The opening theme of ''StellviaOfTheUniverse'', "Asu e no Brilliant Road" by Angela, right at the beginning and subsequently the beginning of each chorus.
* Two phrases (1:21 and 3:06) in the middle of the "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-HXjvmcLa8 Chess]]" piece from ''Theatre/{{Chess}}'' uses this progression. At other times it follows the traditional CircleOfFifths and uses iv instead of VI.
* The ending theme of ''KiddyGrade'', "Future", features this in the chorus.
* The ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' animé theme "Starry Heavens" has this at the beginning of the song and of the chorus.
* Used in XaiverNaidoo's song "Sie sieht mich nicht".
** ''Editor's note: Where in this song is it used? [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIBJ9Kdcy9w Here]] is a link to a [=YouTube=] upload of the song if someone wants to help find it.''
* Talk Talk's "It's My Life" in the prechorus.
* The chorus of BonJovi's "Livin' on a Prayer".
* Near the end of the first boss battle theme of the ''MagicKnightRayearth'' {{SNES}} RPG.
* In the ''RockmanDash'' (i.e. ''MegaManLegends'') soundtrack, the insert song "Your Wind is Blowing", combines the HumoresqueProgression with the CircleOfFifths, by changing one chord of the latter so that the former is embedded in it.
* The first half of the verse of "Time After Time" by MaiKuraki.
* The beginning of the verse of "Take a Shot" from ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha''.
* Near the beginning of "Koi no Minoru Densetsu" from ''LuckyStar'', when the guitars come in. (But ''not'' the song it's a parodying, "Koi no Mikuru Densetsu" from ''Haruhi''.)
* The verse of "Forever", the opening theme of ''ElementalGelade'', by SavageGenius.
* The beginning of the title theme of ''MonsterTale'', though it uses a major I chord rather than a minor i chord as is standard (Amaj Fmaj Gmaj Cmaj, rather than Amin Fmaj Gmaj Cmaj).
* "Where I Come From" by Montgomery Gentry (verses)

!!Relative major examples (vi IV V I):
* "So Serious" by ElectricLightOrchestra: chorus
* {{apple41}}: "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvgtWSDWgWw Puzzle]]", composed for {{vocaloid}} Miku Hatsune: intro and chorus
* The first part of the chorus to REO Speedwagon's "Take It on the Run."
* The fourth (and final) ending theme of ''EurekaSeven'', "Canvas" by {{COOLON}}.
* "Crash Into Me" by Music/DaveMatthewsBand.
* "Time Is Love" by Josh Turner.
----